Rodrigo admits ‘hubris’ in vow to end drug scourge

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has called on communist rebels and narcotics syndicates to drop their guns and their illegal activities and instead join the government in building the nation.

Duterte admitted he was wrong to assume that he could end the drug menace in six months, one of his campaign promises that propelled him to victory in the 2016 presidential race.

“Then I became president, ganito, bakit (now this, why)? Sinasabi ko I can clean it in six months. Then after that I realized na nagkamali talaga ako (I made a mistake),” he said.

“Maybe it’s hubris, it was campaign time, campaigning involves bragging. When I came to Manila, I was with my chief of police, (senator and former police chief Ronald) Bato (dela Rosa)... when I opened the records, how could I? Six generals of the PNP (Philippine National Police) were playing with drugs,” the President said during the inauguration of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway last Wednesday.

“I said ‘How can we live like this?’ B***... To the NPA (New People’s Army), the drug syndicates, you want peace? You want? You know, just work, then drop the gun,” he added.

“You know, you just drop the drugs. You drop the gun, to the NPA, then we won’t have problems, then let’s build a country together,” the President said.

Duterte said the crackdown on illegal drugs, which human rights groups claimed has led to extrajudicial killings, would continue even if he is about to retire from government. He maintained that killing those who destroy the country and the children would continue to be his mantra until he steps down.

“So ganyan eh kung mag-warning ako pagkatapos mag-retire ako, dito ako mag-retire, ubusin ko kayong lahat. T*** i** (If I issue a warning and then I retire, I will retire here, I will wipe you out, son of a b***), do not do that to your fellow human being,” Duterte said.

“To the drug syndicates, drop the drugs. Throw that away and you won’t have any problems with me. I will no longer be the President in a few days. But if you continue to f*** the Filipino, I might find a way really to just... no quarters given, no quarters asked.”

Duterte called on human rights advocates to carefully study the fatalities linked to his controversial drug war, noting that there were also law enforcers killed during drug raids.

“You ask, who was killed and why was he killed? Look at the family,” he said.

Duterte has been accused of committing crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court over the killings tied to his drug war. Officials have denied that Duterte encourages and tolerates summary executions. Malacañang has also argued that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the drug war because local courts are still functioning and that the treaty that formed the tribunal was not in effect in the Philippines.

Acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said Duterte’s admission “underscores the depth, the magnitude and the complexity of the problem which was unknown to him when he was a presidential candidate.”

“The Palace, thus, maintains that the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs remains unprecedented as it is able to produce significant accomplishments in the number of drugs seized, dens and clandestine laboratories dismantled as well as drug-cleared barangays,” Andanar said.

He said 9,915 kilograms of shabu worth P63.43 billion were seized, 1,075 dens and clandestine laboratories were dismantled, 24,379 barangays cleared and 6,606 others kept free from narcotics from July 1, 2016 to Feb. 28, 2022. A total of 229,868 anti-illegal drug operations were conducted and 331,694 persons were arrested during the period, he added.

Aside from the drug trade, another security issue that the Duterte administration said it was trying to address was the decades-old communist insurgency, the longest running Maoist rebellion in the world.

In 2017, Duterte ended the peace talks with communists because of their “acts of violence and hostilities” and their supposed failure to show sincerity in seeking lasting peace.

‘Whim and arrogance’

Reelectionist Sen. Leila de Lima slammed President Duterte’s admission, saying his  “whim and arrogance” had left thousands dead and freedoms curtailed.

Speaking from detention, De Lima said Duterte’s war on drugs and criminality deprived thousands of the right to defend themselves in court. She said children were deprived of the opportunity to achieve their dream and countless families were in mourning as they “continue to long for and seek justice.”

“From the beginning, I said that the solution to drugs should be non-violent. That even if the drug destroys life, there is no need to kill to eliminate it. But Duterte did not listen. They even managed to discredit me and imprison me based on lies,” De Lima said. “After six years, what has the country gained?”

De Lima stressed that Duterte’s remarks should remind Filipinos of the importance of discernment in choosing their next leaders based on their campaign promises.

“Let us be critical in choosing our next leaders to avoid ending up with another Duterte. Especially those who say they will continue and are still enjoying what Duterte did,” De Lima added.

“When we look at the platform of candidates, let’s take some time to reflect and ask ourselves questions like, ‘Is this plan realistic? Is this candidate sincere?’ It is difficult if it is just pride and promise, but nothing has been done and nothing is right,” she said. “Let us vote for candidates with sincerity and respect for human rights. For the next six years, we will no longer be able to blackmail the crooks, the murderers, and the corrupt. Let us vote wisely, for our country, for the people!”

In the 18th Congress, De Lima reintroduced a measure, logged as Senate Bill No. 371, seeking to define and criminalize acts that constitute extrajudicial killings, and ensure accountability for such crimes.

“It is not enough for Duterte to admit that he made a mistake,” she said. “The thousands of lives lost cannot be restored. He must be held accountable, along with his accomplices and henchmen,” the senator said.– Cecille Suerte Felipe